Fastener



June 253, 1942 N. Poux Y y 2,287,323

^ FASTENER Filed Dec. 2,9, 1937 rf I INVLLNTOR. Mel llPoux- .WW2/M.

Patented June 2s, 1942,

FASTENER Noel J. Poux, Meadville, Pa., assig'nor to Talon,

Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 29, i931, serial No. 182,292

'z claims. (ci. 24-205) My invention relates to exible fasteners and methods of making the same. More particularly my invention provides a new fastener construction and `the manufacture of such fasteners which are commonly called zippers..

` In the manufacture of slide fasteners, it is customary to make the slide fastener members with spreadA apart jaws and then bend them around the edge of a beaded fabric stringer in the case of metal elements, or stick them in position by solvent, in the case of soluble Aplastic material. Another methodwhich is used'to. some extent is to die-case the slide fastener members on the beaded edge of a fabric stringer.

My invention is diametrically opposed to this practice in that I propose to manufacture the modification.

Fig. 9 is a cross-section showing a still further The particular form. important and the one shown comprises fastener members ili, II having heads or head vportions with the usual projections andsockets I2 and I3 y respectively, which interengage and hold the fastener elements with the most efElcient shapes and then mold the stringer in the fastener elements. The advantages resulting from the inthe dimensions of the stringer constant during such attachment. Furthermore,'in the applying of the fastener elements to the beaded edgeI of stringers, It is diilicult to keep the accurate shapes of thefastener members.

In my invention, however, the fastener memopening in an article in which the fastener isV used. The Stringer preferably consists of molded rubber and is suiliciently flexible to accommodate the necessary movements of the fastener elements when the slider is moved, and also to provide for transverse flexibility of the fastener.

Preferably there is a thread or cord reinforcement I8 in the beaded. portion I 6 and a fabric reinforcement I9 in the flat portion I'I of the f stringer. When there is no opening in the end of the fastenermember as in Figa-2 and 3 these bers can be made accurately and the stringer molded into position will -not vary Ain length -or thickness.

` In the accompanying drawing, I have shown.

in section, of the slide fastener' shown inreinforcements would not extend into the beaded portion lbut ordinarily .there will be sufdcient strength in the rubber between the cord reinforcement I8 and'fabric reinforcement I 9.

In Fig. 4 the stringer engaging portion consists of a single arm 20 preferably having shoulders 2I to provide interengaging means with the rub- 1 ber string'er member 22, and it may also have a hole 23 to provide the space in which the molded rubber may ow.

. the beadededge receiving hole opens through Fig. '4 is a cross-sectionshowing a modied construction;

Figs. 5 and 6 are side v'and top views respectivel of the slide .fastener member shown in Fig. v Fig. 'I is l cross-sectionv showing a further mo di cation;

Fig. 8 is a top view ofthe fastener member of longitudinally ofthe bead.

the end aty 24 and the reinforcement 25 extends into and connects with the bead reinforcement 26, as shown in Fig. '7.- In this modiflcationthe legs of the fastener elements are never any fursame with the exception that a square opening 28 is provided in each fastener member and there are two beaded reinforcements 29, vI0 extending The method' of manufacture of of Figs.- 1, 2 and 3 will now-be readily understood. First a series of fastener members Il is f 55 placed in one of the mold parts Il in properly of slide fastener is not the lfastener .spaced and aligned relation, with the cord reinforcement I8 extending through the hole I5 thereof and also with the fabric reinforcement I9 positioned in the mold, as shown in Fig. 3. 'I'hen the rubber is placed in position and the other mold part 32 closed against the mold part 3|, whereupon the rubber stringer is compressed and vulcanized in proper position. If desirous the moldable material may be injected into the molds after they are closed. With the rubber stringer elements molded in position as shown the operation of the fastener is substantially the same as the present day fasteners except that it is believed it will be smoother because of greater accuracy of the fastener parts. 'I'he slider I4, however, rides directly on the shoulders of the fastener members. This does not have any bearing on any portion of the molded rubber element which would result in an undue amount of friction and Wear.

While vI have shown and described in this application one embodiment and several modifications thereof which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this embodiment and the modifications are merelyAfor the purposes of illustration and description, and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a exible fastener of the class described, cooperating series of substantially rigid fastener elements, each element being integral and having a head portion and a stringer engaging portion with a bead-receiving opening having continuous walls, a longitudinally inextensible Stringer of reinforced homogeneous resilient flexible material having a thickened bead portion disposed in the bead-receiving openings of the fastener elements and bonded to said fastener elements, said stringer having a at portion extending from said thickened bead portion and integral therewith for attachment at the side of an opening.

comprising a series of substantially rigid fastener elements, each being integral and having a hole with continuous side walls, and a flexible substantially inextensible stringer having an 1ntegral beaded edge portion extending through said holes and having a flat portion integral with said beaded edge portion and extending in an opposite direction from the fastener elements and constituting means for attachment at the side oi.' an opening.

3. A flexible fastener of' the class described, comprising cooperating series of substantially rigid fastener members, each being integral and each having an opening with closed side walls to receive the bead of a Stringer, and a flexible substantially inextensible Stringer of resilient material having a bead extending through said openings, and having an integral flat laterally extending portion constituting means for attachment at one side of an opening.

4. A exible fastener as described in claim 3, wherein said stringer is an integral substantially inextensible fabric and rubber element bonded to said fastener members.

5. A flexible fastener as described in claim 3, wherein each stringer is a rubber element incorporating substantially inextensible fabric reinforcing means in the flat portion, and cord reinforcing means extending longitudinally through the bead.

6. A flexible fastener as described in claim 3, wherein each stringer is a rubber element having substantially inextensible reinforcing means extending longitudinally through the bead and other reinforcing means embedded in the at` portion of the Stringer.

"1. A flexible fastener as described in claim 3,

,wherein the stringer is an integral rubber'ele- NOEL J. POUX. 

